Founders
Julie DAS
Founder & Project Director
As a French-native who has spent a cumulative 20 years in Malaysia, Julie has been able to answer humanitarian calls in various nations.
With a background in Education, it was fitting that Julie began this journey in 2009 with ‘Balo’, an education-focused organisation in Kolkata, India. Their mission is to provide free education, medical care and nutritious food to 270 underprivileged children in a slum. She worked as a volunteer teacher, fundraiser and since then has been responsible for the entire South East Asia region.
Between 2012 to 2017, she continued teaching children and young adults, began a yoga teacher training course and gained deeper knowledge of alternative medicine in Kuala Lumpur. Whilst doing this she volunteered for numerous social projects with Myanmarese refugee communities, supporting them with events planning and fundraising. Furthermore, she opened a responsible travel agency that supports social projects in various countries.
After relocating to Yangon, Myanmar following a return to Malaysia, Julie was able to develop ‘Linkage’, a vocational training project in F&B that targeted at-risk teenagers.
As Julie moved back to Kuala Lumpur in 2017, she was able to form close relations with the refugee communities in her area, in particular with Afghan women, through consistent food distribution drives.
The global pandemic severely impacted the refugee communities, leaving them with no source of income- unable to feed their families, pay rent and cover medical needs.
Noticing a lack of local support for these vulnerable communities, Julie established ‘Greater Action’ in March 2020 to provide day-to-day solutions to all refugee or in-need communities in and around Kuala Lumpur.
Today, Greater Action is proud to support 250 families with education, livelihood, health/mental care, and women empowerment programs.
Dr. Shazwan SAHABUDEEN
Co-Founder & Healthcare Advisor
Dr. Shazwan Sahabudeen completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine from a private university in Malaysia and was attached to Selayang Hospital. He then accomplished a Doctorate of Business Administration from IBSS in Denmark and is currently pursuing his PhD in Business Management.
Having owned and run multiple businesses ever since medical school, Dr. Shazwan has explored and ventured into various industries. He was awarded The Most Prominent Leader award in 2016.
With his many years of experience, Dr. Shazwan founded EduLife Academy in 2018 with a mission to create awareness on wellness, comprising health and wealth whilst focusing on personal development. EduLife Academy then partnered with The Edge of Fitness in 2019 to launch the popular program called MedFit, an integration of medicine and fitness which created a wholesome program that inspire people to not only look and feel good but also instil habits of healthy living. This charity-based program with it’s unique “Pay If You Wish” system was the first of its kind in Malaysia driven with a vision that everyone should have access to the right medical advice and physical training they truly deserve.
Naturally a warm and compassionate person, Dr. Shazwan thrives into assisting the families under Greater Action with medical emergencies, maternity care, mental health, surgical procedures and diagnostic imaging. In total as to date, there are over 500 families from Malaysia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Iran and Sri Lanka under his wing.
Kindness and knowledge are meant to be given without reservations and Dr. Shazwan stands by his belief:
“Don’t Just Live. Leave A Legacy”.
Pauline BOURQUENEZ
Executive Director
Pauline is the supervisor and executor of all welfare programs and activities at the centre and external events and presentations.
She spends maximum time on the field to spread awareness about Greater Action and is the voice of the talented and skilled refugee women behind the sustainable projects.